NEWS FROM BERLIN

Pankow’s fight against right-wing spaces

Around 100 people gathered on Fröbelstraße in Prenzlauer Berg before the start of the Pankow district council meeting last Wednesday. The issue: supporters of the militant neo-Nazi party Der Dritte Weg and its youth organisation, the National Revolutionary Youth (NRJ), have been meeting regularly at the Rennbahnstraße sports complex in the Weißensee district. The demonstrators demanded that the district terminate the usage contract immediately, which caused broad discussions among the present politicians. Among them, Denise Bittner (CDU) condemned the “muscular ammunitioning” of the neo-Nazis in public spaces, but emphasised the absolute necessity of a legal basis for the contract’s termination. Source: taz

Protest at Lieferando in Berlin: “I demand respect”

Last Friday, many Lieferando’s workers went to a branch of the Burgermeister fast food chain in Eberswalder Straße, where a courier had allegedly been attacked by employees and ended up in hospital several weeks prior. There were signs reading “No tolerance for violence” and “I demand respect.” Burgermeister denied this account to several media outlets; the police confirmed the incident to newspaper Tagesspiegel. However, the course of events is still being investigated, as both sides have filed charges of assault. The Lieferando Workers Collective (LWC) and the protesters believe Lieferando has a duty to better protect its employees from violence. Source: nd

NEWS FROM GERMANY

More than 1,000 people demonstrate against the defence industry

More than 1,000 people marched through Kiel for the final rally of the protest camp against war and militarisation. The camp and the demonstration were initiated by the “Disarm Rheinmetall” alliance. According to police, the march had to be stopped repeatedly as demonstrators displayed prohibited symbols, set off pyrotechnics or threw buckets of paint. Five people were provisionally arrested. “There were repeated arbitrary police violence at the demonstration and indiscriminate arrests,” wrote the “Disarm Rheinmetall” alliance. The ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), The German Armed Forces and the naval base command in Kiel also stated that they would remain vigilant and monitor the overall situation. Source: ndr

Many in Germany are considering moving away due to the rise of the AfD

Many people with a migration background in Germany are considering moving away from their federal state – or even emigrating – due to the political rise of the AfD. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM). According to the survey, almost one in four people with a migration background are at least hypothetically considering leaving Germany. Besides that, more than a third (33.8%) of respondents with a migrant background think of moving to another federal state if the AfD is in government in their own. Source: zeit

Shots fired at the Israeli consulate in Munich

A large-scale police operation startled the Bavarian capital last Thursday. A man fired several shots in the centre of Munich, where the Israeli Consulate General and Nazi Documentation Centre are located. Police returned fire and killed the attacker. According to taz, the shooter was an 18-year-old Austrian, Emra I., who had recently been categorised by Austrian authorities as an extremist. Eyewitnesses and the police reported that the man initially fired several shots using an older bolt-action rifle with a bayonet, which could be seen on videos circulating on social media channels. The police reported there are no other suspects. Source: taz

VW CEO wants a “hit car”

The causes of the crisis at Volkswagen (VW) are still unclear. The VW Group CEO explained that he believes the reasons are fewer vehicles being bought in Europe and new competitors from Asia pushing their way into the market. Nevertheless, it seems the situation for the brand is “alarming.” The costs for the proposed solution, a “hit car,” are once again unevenly distributed: since last week, there has been talk of job cuts and plant closures. Janine Wissler, leader of Die Linke, reminded in this case about the 4.5 billion euros that VW distributed to its shareholders in the last financial year. Source: jW

New labour record despite slump

People in employment worked a total of 14.7 billion hours from April to June – a new record. “Never before has so much work been done in Germany – in the middle of an economic downturn,” said researcher Enzo Weber from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). The much-vaunted employment record was possible despite the ageing of society because of the higher participation of women and migrants in the labor market. Employment subject to social insurance contributions has risen in the service sector, particularly in areas such as education, care for the elderly, and healthcare. In the construction sector and in industry, on the other hand, employment declined. Source: nd

‘We’re in over our heads’

Around 300,000 asylum applications are being processed across Germany at the moment. CSU leader Markus Söder is calling for a significant reduction in their number in Germany. Migration is “over our heads,” he said, suggesting turning people back at the border as an instrument to reduce migration. The CSU leader also recommends a long-term change to asylum law. “We need to turn a subjective right into a fundamental institutional right.” FDP leader Christian Linder believes it necessary to control the number of asylum applications, but he is convinced that the country should also remain diverse and tolerant. Source: tagesschau

Price increases in food products

Consumers must dig much deeper into their pockets than a few years ago when shopping. Some products have become particularly expensive. There are numerous reasons for this, such as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change and rising costs of raw materials, energy and labour. Foods for which mystery shoppers have registered the biggest price increases since July 2020 are olive oil (+112.6%), sugar (+83.3%), and wheat flour (+61.5%), to name a few. According to the Federal Statistical Office, only one food item is 2% cheaper today than it was then: citrus fruits. Source: berliner zeitung

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Food couriers: victims of harassment and claimed violence

The Lieferando Workers Collective (LWC) has reported harassment incidents against their members, with instances of men dropping their towel the moment the door is opened becoming more frequent. They also reported an incident where a rider was violently attacked while waiting for an order at Burgermeister (a burger restaurant) on Schönhauser Allee. The restaurant staff had said he was not allowed to wait inside the restaurant. The courier suffered head injuries. Lieferando emphasised its support of the courier, and it is supporting an ongoing police investigation. The LWC have gone further calling for a protest in front of the very Burgermeister branch next Friday. Source: taz

BVG: more violent offences than it had for ten years

Berlin’s public transport recorded almost 4,200 acts of violence last year. It is the highest figure for ten years. On average, more than eleven acts of violence are counted per day in underground trains, buses and at railway stations operated by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), according to the company´s security report published on Monday. The total number of offences, recorded in the BVG area was 14,825 – the second lowest figure in the last ten years. Above all, there was less pickpocketing and damage to property: vandalism and graffiti cause annual costs of 4.9 million euros for transport companies – an average of 13,424 euros per day. Source: rbb

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Saxony and Thuringia: success for Nazis

This Sunday’s election results in Saxony and Thuringia have confirmed the impression of an ongoing crisis. In both states, ‘Die Linke’s (The Left) vote share has roughly halved in size; in Thuringia from an all-time high in 2019 and in Saxony from an already poor result. However, the Left Party’s plight is only part of a larger drama. When a party like the AfD performs so well – then alarm is the order of the day. The AfDs politics will not mellow, its development to date shows the opposite trend, becoming more radical. In some cases, it demonstrates open right-wing extremism. Source: nd-aktuell

Election disaster in the east: the ‘Ampel’ coalition and its ineffective communication

The AfD has won a state election in Thuringia for the first time. The CDU came second, almost ten percent behind. Several things are clear. First, the attack campaigns against the AfD has failed. Second, the fear strategy of politicians and the media has not worked. For weeks, disaster scenarios were painted in the event of AfD victories and BSW (Sarah Wagenknecht’s party) successes. Third, the transparent manoeuvres of the SPD and Greens to feign a change of course in the last few days to prevent an AfD victory and a strong performance by the BSW failed to sway voters. Source: berliner zeitung

SPD State president calls for tougher asylum policy

Following the attack in Solingen, Brandenburg’s Minister President Dietmar Woidke (SPD) has spoken out in favour of stricter asylum laws. Border controls should be maintained and possibly expanded, he said at a special session of the state parliament. Asylum seekers from safe third countries should be turned back directly at the German borders. Those who had no right to stay in Germany would have to leave Germany again, including countries such as Afghanistan or Syria. He still called for a ‘similarly comprehensive, far-reaching change’ as the asylum compromise in the 1990s. At that time, the right to asylum was restricted. Source: tagesschau

Germany generated more solar power than ever before in July 2024

Germany hit a record high for solar produced energy in July 2024. “Around 10 terawatt hours of solar power were produced, more than ever before in a single month, even though solar radiation was lower than last year,” said Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) to the Funke Media Group. In 2023, around 57,1 percent of all energy produced in Germany came from renewable sources like solar and wind. According to figures from the Economics Ministry, expansion doubled last year compared to the year before, installing infrastructure capable of creating almost 14 gigawatts of power. By 2030, this is expected to rise to 215 gigawatts. Source: iamexpat

Traffic-light government wants to cut money for ’Dublin refugees’

The traffic-light government (‘die Ampel’) is currently discussing drastic benefit cuts for asylum seekers who are registered in another EU country – known as the ’Dublin refugees’. According to the plans, these people will receive neither cash benefits nor a cash card, but only the most necessary benefits in kind such as accommodation, food and hygiene products (according to the ‘bed-bread-soap principle’), the ‘Bild’ reports. The government also plans on lowering the threshold related to deportation as well as measures against violent Islamism and a tightening of weapon laws with a focus on knives. Source: n-tv

NEWS FROM BERLIN

General suspicion applies in Görli

Abdulaye Sow was falsely accused of drug dealing in Görlitzer Park in what his lawyer describes as clear racial profiling. On that day, just before going to the park, he withdrew 400 euros from an ATM – for which the newspaper ‘taz” has published the bank statement. He was then stopped by the police, who took his money and accused him of being a dealer. He was ‘shocked’ the police would accuse a man of being a dealer just because he was sitting near a drug hotspot and had money with him, even though there was no evidence of this. He has since announced that he has lodged a complaint with the police. Source: taz

Number of pupils in Berlin has risen again

Berlin’s schools record an increase in the number of pupils in the new school year. According to preliminary data from the education administration, around 404,000 pupils will be studying at general education schools after the end of the summer holidays, around 9,000 more than in the previous year. Also, the number of young people attending vocational schools has risen from 77,900, exceeding 78,000. The Senator for Education, Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU) has said that these figures are related to Berlin being ‘a hotspot for immigration’. There remains a shortage of hundreds of teachers. Günther-Wünsch is working with alternatives such as offering a long-term perspective for single-subject teachers. Source: rbb

A Russian restaurant in Berlin closes down after discrimination

Berlin is known for its diverse and lively gastronomy scene. However, many restaurants in Berlin are in crisis. Among them, a Russian gastronomic icon was forced to close recently. ‘Datscha’ was once a cult restaurant in Friedrichshain. You could eat Russian pancakes filled with quark, cream cheese and home-marinated salmon here. Co-founder Kristina Enke, a German-Ukrainian, has spoken out about the reasons for the closure, mentioning not only the increase on costs, but the prejudice experienced. There have been negative reviews on Google such as ‘Don’t eat there, the owner is Russian’. Source: Berlin-live

1. FC Union Berlin in search of suitable sponsors

The Bundesliga season begins for 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday against 1. FSV Mainz 05. There, only the word ‘Berlin’ with the television tower in the background will be visible on the “Eisern”´s shirts. Missing critically the main sponsor. Such sponsorship deals are being considered carefully since there have been recent negative examples showing that a premature deal can be counterproductive. The most controversial sponsorship agreement this season was undoubtedly Borussia Dortmund’s deal with Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest defence contractor. Union´s president Dirk Zingler affirmed: ‘We wouldn’t have chosen Rheinmetall because Rheinmetall stands for something different than our club.’ Source: msn

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Terrorism and fascism: two sides of the same coin

After the deadly knife attack in Solingen, German politicians have reacted in typical fashion. The AfD has called for a ‘deportation offensive’, while CDU chairman Friedrich Merz insists: ‘It’s not knives that are the problem, but the people walking around with them. In most cases, these people are refugees.’ And Fabio De Masi from the ‘Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance’ joins in the chorus: ‘We have to talk about parallel societies and the large number of people who live with us without being subject to the right of asylum.’ One may ask on what basis these comments are made? What does the ‘Islamic State’, which claims responsibility for the attack, have to do with migration and asylum law? Source: nd-aktuell

Scholz vows speeding up deportations after Solingen

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said irregular migration into Germany ‘must go down’ after the attack in Solingen. ‘This was terrorism, terrorism against us all,’ Scholz said during a visit to the city last Monday. Scholz also said his government would have to do ‘everything we can to ensure that those who cannot and should not stay here in Germany are repatriated and deported.’ An already heated debate about migration has become fiercer, with suggestions from the opposition of more control on Germany´s borders, or even stopping all migration. Experts say such suggestions are not feasible and are incompatible with German and European Union law. Source: bbc

Demonstrators against AfD prevent Björn Höcke from appearing in Jena

Thuringia’s leading AfD candidate Björn Höcke had to cancel an appearance in Jena due to a counter-demonstration. The original plan was for Höcke to appear at a public discussion in a district centre in Jena-Lobeda. According to the police, the manifestation had been registered, however, fewer people were originally expected. A broad alliance had called for the protests. The police stated that 2,000 people took part in the protests. Katharina König-Preuss (Left Party), a member of the Thuringian state parliament, had estimated the number of participants at around 3,000. She also described a sometimes harsh police operation against blockaders. The police were deployed there with pepper spray and batons. Source: Zeit

Foreign labour generates billions for eastern German states

Without foreigners, gross value added in eastern Germany would shrink: that is the conclusion of a new study by the Institute of German Economy (IW). ‘Foreign employees support the East German economy,’ says study author Wido Geis-Thöne, ’which makes it all the more important that the region remains cosmopolitan.’ According to the study, they mainly came from Poland and the Czech Republic, but also from countries such as India and Vietnam. However, eastern Germany does not have the best reputation when it comes to hospitality, the IW notes. ‘The AfD is working tirelessly on migrants,’ points out the institute. Source: rbb

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Charges against Berlin politician Kalayci

Charges have been brought against former Berlin health senator Dilek Kalayci (SPD). The Berlin public prosecutor’s office has accused the politician of bribery. She has emphatically rejected the accusations levelled against her. According to the investigation, Kalayci and a man from an advertising agency allegedly agreed in spring 2019 that the agency would take over the planning and organisation of Kalayci’s wedding, the costs of which (12,000 euros) were never invoiced. This same firm later received a contract for 270 thousand euros for a campaign for the health ministry. However, as explained by her lawyer, the politician ‘assumed that the advertising agency’s services had been properly invoiced and paid for in full.’ Source: t-online

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Far-right demo broken up near Leipzig Pride event

Neo-Nazis and far-right extremists staged a demonstration in the vacinity of a Pride event in Leipzig last Saturday. Police said around 300-400 people took part in the rally. These supporters of extreme right wing politics gathered at the city’s main railway station under the banner: “Proud, German, National.” Several crimes and violations of Germany’s assembly law were reported by Saxony’s police on X. Several hundred participants were detained temporarily. Earlier this month, nearly 700 far-right protesters arranged a march during a Pride rally in Bautzen, again in Saxony, sparking a large police presence. Source: dw

Four airports in Germany blocked by climate activists

“Letzte Generation” climate activists demonstrated at several German airports last week. The Cologne/Bonn airport announced that it was suspending flights after an “unauthorized intrusion.” Police has reported that a hole had been cut in the perimeter fence. Later that same day, Nuremberg also confirmed it was pausing operations due to a protest. In Berlin and Stuttgart, police said that activists were arrested without disrupting traffic. “The stakes right now are billions of human lives. Climate collapse is already a reality for many people,” the activists wrote on social media site X. Source: dw

Minister urges residents to move to German countryside

Housing Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) has urged residents to move to the countryside where “almost 2 million houses are empty” to avoid the rising cost of renting and buying a house in major German cities. Despite Geywitz’s advice, there is evidence that these rent rises have been spilling into towns and villages, particularly since the outbreak of coronavirus, as well as the possibility of home office. The minister has a plan for increasing urban to rural migration in Germany, saying that the government is working with municipalities to increase rural pull factors. Further details ar to follow in November. Source: iamexpat

Sabotage fears prompt water scare near German base

Ten thousand people living near a military base close to Bonn were told to stop using tap water on Thursday night, as authorities investigated a case of possible sabotage at a water supply site. Meanwhile, Nato reported an attempted trespass at its base at Geilenkirchen close to the Dutch border. The extent of sabotage in each of the three incidents remains unclear although Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have been on heightened alert due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. No one has yet been detained for any of the three alleged sabotage incidents. Source: bbc

Traffic lights are ‘practically no longer fit for government’ for Merz

CDU leader Friedrich Merz believes the coalition government has failed. He made these comments in reaction to the description by Green Party leader Omid Nouripour as a ‘transitional government’. Merz said that this is an ‘admission that this coalition no longer has anything to say’ and is ‘basically now really at the end’ . ‘The fourth largest economy in the world is practically no longer capable of governing and that is not good for any of us.’ Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is ‘living in a different world’ and making light of the situation, said the CDU leader in the same interview. Source: welt

Court rejects appeal by concentration camp secretary

The former concentration camp secretary Irmgard Furchner was has been convicted of aiding and abetting murder in over 10,000 cases. This is the decision reached by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in a landmark judgement on Tuesday. The case has been contraversal as Furchner is now 99 years old. From 1943 to 1945, she was a typist at the Stutthof concentration camp near Gdansk. ‘Should a criminal offence be prosecuted at all after such a long time?’ asked presiding judge Gabriele Cirener right at the beginning of the verdict, picking up on the public debate. ‘The answer of the law is quite clear,’ Cirener then said, ’murder is not time-barred.’ Source: taz

NEWS FROM BERLIN

Rigaerstrasse 94 faces the end

For 34 years, Rigaer Straße 94 has defied the gentrification of Friedrichshain’s northern neighbourhood and the disintegration of the autonomous scene. Now, however, according to “taz”, a group of former residents who are still in possession of rental contracts have decided not to mount any further legal defence against the owner’s eviction proceedings. This would affect the majority of the flats in the side wing and rear building – the core of the radical left-wing project. The background to this is both legal risks in view of a new line taken by the Berlin courts and a dispute over the Middle East conflict, as well. Source: taz

Wegner promises Bürgerämter will offer walk-in appointments

The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (CDU), has promised that the citizens’ office (Bürgerämter) will offer appointment-free days, during which people can drop by without booking one. Since 2012, it is possible to visit the Bürgeramt – where citizens must go to get a registration certificate in the city or change their driving licence – only with an appointment. In recent years that has become much more difficult, due to the long waiting time for getting it. Opposing parties show concern about the administrative measures for such modernisation. The Left Party, among others, commented the new system would only lead to further chaos and stress for employees. Source: iamexpat

Potsdam decriminalises riding public transport without a ticket

The Potsdam Transport Service GmbH announced it will no longer file criminal charges against people caught riding public transport without a ticket on multiple occasions. It means passengers travelling on public transport in Potsdam still need a valid ticket and if they are caught without one can still face a fine, but not criminal proceedings. Such decision was taken after the Potsdam Left Party pushed to decriminalise “Schwarzfahren” (literally “riding black”), and it follows similar determinations taken recently in other cities such as Bremen, Cologne, Dresden and Halle, among others. In neighbouring Berlin, the Senate for Justice has already said the capital will not follow in Potsdam’s footsteps. Source: iamexpat

NEWS FROM GERMANY

Majority of Germans against military aid for Israel

Many people in Germany are against the Bundeswehr providing military assistance to Israel in its defence – for example with Eurofighters for drone defence. As shown by the latest ARD DeutschlandTrend. According to the survey, 68 percent of respondents do not think it would be right for Germany to provide Israel with military defence support. Oppositionally, 21 per cent came out in favour. The current DeutschlandTrend also asked whether Israel’s military reaction against the terrosit attacks commited by Hamas have gone too far to which 57 percent of those polled saying that is has. When asked if Israel’s military actions are justified if the Palestinian civilian population is also affected 68 per cent consider Israeli attacks unjustified. Source: br

Citizen’s income is too high for the FDP

Following the debate on tougher sanctions for those who refuse to work, the FDP has criticised the level of the citizen’s allowance for all recipients. Single recipients of citizen’s allowance currently receive 563 euros per month. Too much, says FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr. In view of the inflation trend, the citizen’s allowance is “currently 14 to 20 euros too high per month”, he said. The SPD reacted angrily to it’s governing partner’s latest comment. It thinks “absolutely nothing of constantly creating uncertainty with completely half-baked ideas far removed from reality”, said Martin Rosemann, the SPD parliamentary group’s labour market policy spokesman. Source: tagesschau

LGBTQ+ rights to constitution: German politicians split over it

The 3rd Article of the German constitution states: “No person shall be favored or disfavored because of gender, parentage, race, language, homeland and origin, faith or religious or political opinions.” To that, the German government wants to incorporate a protection for sexual identity. Any change to the constitution requires however a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and in the Bundesrat. Support from other parties such as the conservative CSU and CDU are essential, since the traffic-light coalition does not hold the needed seats for it. Source: dw

Hamburg-Berlin train line to be closed for months

The Hamburg-Berlin railway line connects the two largest cities in Germany. Due to its poor condition, a month-long refurbishment is imminent – the first of two. The construction work is scheduled to last from this Friday until the timetable change on 14 December. This will result in considerable restrictions on long-distance and regional services for around four months. “Among other things, more than 74 kilometres of track and 100 points between Wittenberge and Ludwigslust as well as between Hamburg and Büchen and around Hagenow Land will be renewed,” the Deutsche Bahn announced. Long-distance trains will be diverted westwards via Stendal, Salzwedel, Uelzen and Lüneburg. Source: n-tv